Let’s Get Cooking
Cereal for dinner again?
For many parents, cooking can be a chore. Many of us make the same meals on a regular basis, rarely venturing outside of our culinary comfort zones. Add kids’ activities and parent’s work schedules into the mix, and we often don’t have sufficient time or ingredients to make the meals we want. Before you break out the corn flakes for dinner again, why not check out local cooking classes?
We’ve rounded up over 10 spots for adults to polish their cooking skills. Different schools and restaurants offer courses in meals (soups, appetizers, pasta), specific cooking techniques (knifing, butchering) and meal themes (vegan, grain free, country-specific dishes).
Junior Chefs in Training
“Can I help make dinner?”
A great way to bond with your children is to cook together. Whether it’s preparing dinner or baking the favorite family recipe for chocolate chip cookies, kids can have a lot of fun in the kitchen too. We’ve highlighted the local spots that include classes for the next generation of chefs.
Hands-On Cooking Classes in Greater Kalamazoo
1 – BraVo! Restaurant & Cafe | 5402 Portage Road, Kalamazoo | 269-344-7700
Want to be a one-pot cooker or learn how to improve your outdoor grilling skills? Gain these skills and more from the owner and award-winning chef, Shawn Hagen. Classes include a recipe packet to take home.
Schedule: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
2 – Continental Pastries & Delicatessen | 928 Columbia Avenue W, Ste A, Battle Creek | 269- 968-7136
Enjoy decorating cookies or making gingerbread houses? This bakery and deli offer courses in preparing meals and desserts.
Schedule: Varies, check Facebook.
Kids: family gingerbread classes, mommy and me painting classes
3 – Downtown Market Grand Rapids | 435 Ionia Avenue SW, Grand Rapids | 616-805-5308
Downtown Market offers courses in multiple categories: Dinner Series, Cocktails, Workshops, and Greenhouse.
Schedule: Varies
Kids: Children aged 16+ are permitted in most adult courses (excludes cocktail series). Also offers courses for kids and teens (ages 7-11 and 12-15).
4 – Food Dance | 401 E. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo | 269-382-1888
Tastings (wine, bourbon), cooking skills (butchering, knifing) and cooking courses (soups, grilling) are all options offered at Food Dance’s classes.
Schedule: Varies, most courses are on weekdays from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
5 – Kellogg Community College | 450 North Avenue, Battle Creek | 269-965-3931
Making bread, cheese, and gardening techniques are all covered on their campus in Battle Creek.
Schedule: Varies, most courses are weekdays from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
6 – Kalamazoo Valley Community College | 418 E Walnut Street, Kalamazoo | 269-353-1253
KVCC’s classes feature both a chef and registered dietician as they explore both cooking and nutrition. Classes cover specific foods (making pasta, baked goods) and foods by location (Thai street food, Rustic Italian).
Schedule: Weekdays, starting at 5:30 PM.
Kids: Family cooking classes, cooking fundamentals for kids
7 – Meal Preppin’ in Kalamazoo | mealpreppinkalamazoo@gmail.com
Tired of last minute dinners? Meal Preppin’ in Kalamazoo helps you create freezer meals so dinner is planned ahead of time. You can attend scheduled events at their kitchen, or host a session in your home.
Schedule: Varies. Check their website.
Kids: Mommy and me classes
8 – Portage Community Education | 8135 S Westnedge Avenue, Portage | 269-323-6700
Need to perfect your Instant Pot Skills? Portage offers courses on Instant Pots and more topics throughout the year at Portage Central High School.
Schedule: Varies. Most courses are on weekdays from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.
9 – The Henderson Castle | 100 Monroe Street, Kalamazoo | 269-344-1827
This historic bed and breakfast hosts classes in their teaching kitchen on weekends.
Schedule: Weekends, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Kids: Classes offered for ages 7-14
10 – The People’s Food Co-op | 507 Harrison Street, Kalamazoo | 269-342-5686
The People’s Food Co-op classes include vegan options, soup making, cauliflower as a grain replacement, and corned beef for St Patrick’s Day!
Schedule: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Kids: Children (aged 12-17) can attend for FREE with a paid adult
11 – Zazios | 100 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo | 269-384-2650
Local favorite Zazios hosts cooking classes once a month in three-hour sessions. Topics include pasta, seafood, and appetizers.
Schedule: Saturdays, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Online Course (Adult)
Kellogg Community College | 450 North Avenue, Battle Creek | 269-965-3931
No time to attend courses in person? Kellogg Community College offers online-only courses as a flexible option for learning at home when your schedule permits.
Schedule: Online only, 6 weeks of access starting mid-month.
In-Home Subscription (Kids)
Another option for your budding chef is Raddish, a monthly subscription service. Each monthly kit (aimed at ages 4-14) includes illustrated recipes, grocery lists, kid-friendly cooking tools and skill cards to work on their culinary techniques.
Schedule: One kit arrives each month with your paid subscription.
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